California Lutheran University should allow a larger variety of pets within its residence halls.
As a sophomore commuter student at Cal Lutheran, I hope to be able to live on campus sometime in the future. However, there is one issue preventing me from moving on campus — I have a pet not permitted by the university’s student handbook.
I have a pet leopard gecko. Her name is Clover, and she lives in my room in a 20 gallon aquarium tank. Under Cal Lutheran’s current pet policy, she would not be allowed to live within the campus’ residence halls.
According to Section 27 of the student handbook, fish are the only non-emotional support animals allowed in university housing through Disability Support Services.
“Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are animals that provide emotional support which alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of an individual’s existing disability. To be considered an accommodation, an ESA must be required by an individual with a disability, in their residence, in order for the individual to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their residence/dwelling,” according to the DSS student handbook.
Fish must also be removed from the residence halls during breaks and live in tanks that do not exceed 20 gallons.
So, why are other pets who live in the same size or smaller than a 20-gallon aquarium not allowed on campus?
“Fish are the only animals permitted under the pet policy due to health and safety concerns, potential damage to residential spaces, allergy risks, and general consideration for students who may not want pets in their living environment,” said Andrew Castro, assistant director for Residence Life and Student Conduct.
Castro said that this policy has been in place since he was a Cal Lutheran student in 2012.
“To my knowledge, there have not been any considerations about changing the current pet policy,” Castro said.
Currently, the only way for students to have other pets, besides fish, is to get ESA accommodations from DSS, according to the student handbook.
“To have an animal certified as an ESA, the handler/pet owner and the animal/pet need to go through an ESA assessment,” said Anna Guerin, director of Counseling and Psychological Services. “I do not know the cost of an ESA assessment in every state or county but a professional and ethical assessment would be around $250.”
I know that I am currently unable to spend $250 to start the process of getting my lizard certified as an ESA. I feel many other college students would agree this estimate is pricey.
Yumma Mora, a senior at Cal Lutheran, is the owner of an Australian shepherd. She has registered her shepherd as an ESA through DSS on campus, and keeps her dog in her dorm.
“I think a lot of people confuse having an ESA or like any working animal with a pet, which they’re not. They’re animals that do have a task to do,” Mora said.
According to Mora, the process she went through to get her ESA included years of therapy and counseling.
Even if someone does not need an ESA, though, there are still clear benefits to keeping pets.
According to “The Human–Companion Animal Bond: How Humans Benefit,” there is a “positive impact of pets and animal companions on the health of their owners and of people participating in animal-assisted therapy or animal-assisted activities.”
The same study found a way in which pets aid people’s well-being is by reducing a person’s stress.
I can attest to my lizard reducing my stress. I calm down seeing her in my room, and occasionally taking her out to play. I find comfort in her presence and knowing that if she can make it, so can I.
I do know, though, that she can cause disease and fear toward others. According to the CDC, reptiles are more likely to carry disease compared with other pets; specifically salmonella.
However, by washing one’s hands after handling a reptile, the chance for disease is greatly mitigated, per the CDC.
To prevent any issues surrounding pets in the dorms, however, students could be required to converse with their potential roommates and resident assistants ahead of time regarding pets in shared living spaces. Reptile owners like me could also inform others about the disease risks and prevention.
Mora said even with her accommodations for her dog, she still spoke to her roommates before moving in with them about keeping a pet in their home.
“They [roommates] were always aware of it. I always started that conversation because I felt like it was important, especially because some people can be scared of dogs,” Mora said.
Cal Lutheran should allow other animals to be kept in the dorms, as long as residents document the pet they are keeping and all roommates sign off on the decision. New paperwork should be introduced by Residence Life to allow this as a possibility.
All in all, I know it is very possible to keep smaller animals within the constraints of a 20-gallon aquarium that are not fish. My lizard lives happily in her 20-gallon tank, through her constant relaxation and adorable interactions.
Widening the number of non-ESAs in residence halls is possible with proper communication between the students and Cal Lutheran.
